Public categories not accessible in 4.0.29 /error after update to 4.0.31[SOLVED]

[mj_jdl]

Meanwhile I'm getting closer to the core of the behavior:

- If a link to all categories "index.php?option=com_jdownloads&view=categories" is present in any of the menus with access level *PUBLIC*, then links to single public categories, e.g. "index.php?option=com_jdownloads&view=category&catid=4" will work as expected for visitors (not logged in)

See https://beta.iasev.de/index.php/de/
catid=4 points to https://beta.iasev.de/index.php/de/publikationen/category/4-pub

This works even on the /en/ version of the site, even if the all categories link isn't shown there. ;-)

And it even works when I move the all categories link to the hidden original Joomla! main menu (overridden by the lang specific main menus)!!! ;-)

- If no such link is present, the single category links fails with 404 as shown above for visitors

[ColinM]

Hi
The problem was resolved by Arno in jD 4.0.33
https://www.jdownloads.com/index.php/downloads/download/6-jdownloads/70-jdownloads-4.html

Colin

[mj_jdl]

4.0.33 is installed on beta, 4.0.29 on the main site. Both show the same strange behavior. The intermediate error in .31 was fixed, yes.
But I'm still at a loss with the original problem.

[ColinM]

Hi
Site seems OK but you say if you change from a jD 'List All Categories' to say  a 'Single Category' menu item the site behaves incorrectly.

Do you have another jD 'List All Categories' menu item elsewhere as jD always needs a 'List All Categories' menu item.  Usually I set this one to be a hidden menu item   (In the Link Type tab set option 'Display in Menu' to No)
Colin

[mj_jdl]

Thanks, yes, if there's no "list all categories" in the menu system and the current access level then "single category" will fail.
The "list all categories" menu item can be invisible, but must be enabled (green tick mark).
For members already logged in, this isn't a problem, because a separate members menu will always contain the "list all categories" item.
Ok, so for now I have that work-around. But IMHO this really is a bug in jD, isn't it?

[ColinM]

Hi
This is not a workaround!  jD uses the List All Categories menu item as a 'navigation aid'. A suitable message about the need for the menu item is given when jD is first installed. 
jD has been using this approach since the very early days of Joomla. No doubt if jD was started afresh today a different scheme could be used.

Colin